Scarlet Curse

by T. H. Hunter

  “You do not have to divulge everything about your life, Miss Flynn. I assure you, however, that anything you tell me will be treated with the utmost level of secrecy. Now, did you find out anything else about these figurines?”

  It was too important to omit completely. My story must have appeared rather strange, as it sounded as if I had just happened to stumble across a blood party in the catacombs of the castle. Doctor Yurasov, however, phrased his questions respectfully. I think he understood perfectly well what was going on.

  “And then, I, erm, had it arranged that the girl was removed and brought back to where she came from.”

  “A noble thing to do, Miss Flynn. You did well. The Council has been trying to stamp these organisations out for years, but to little avail. Unfortunately, the whole thing is a lot worse than we had initially assumed. I’ll be honest with you, Miss Flynn. The Council is in disarray, our King is ill and his Queen – it pains me to criticise a member of the Royal Family but nonetheless – is not invested entirely in the well-being of all of her subjects.”

  “You mean, she doesn’t care at all…”

  “Indeed. And Prince Raphael’s hands are tied. By Vampiric Law, the Queen rules as long as the King lives but is incapacitated. And we do not have the political power to change the law. Without Royal consent, it is impossible anyway.”

  “How can I help?” I asked.

  “You already have been, Miss Flynn. We are not interested so much in the blood parties as in the heads of the drug ring. The Knights are ready to intervene, of course, but we need to know where to strike. I cannot tell you what to do, naturally, as you are not – or should I say not yet – a member of the Scarlet Knights. But I ask you only to keep your eyes open. Find the head of the snake, and we will be able to deal with it.”

  “You think they’re after more than just blood?”

  “Oh yes, that much is certain. The King is not simply ‘ill’, he is being poisoned.”

  “What?”`

  “Yes. Prince Raphael has been working extremely hard to save him, but it is most likely terminal. The addicts are simply pawns in their political game, Miss Flynn. They use their addiction as a tool to overthrow our present order and to return to the old ways. Of course they might be addicted themselves, who knows. We are, in other words, at risk of civil war, more than at any other time since the war with the Slayers ended. You have already proven resourceful before. And I trust that you operate best when you move freely. If you need help, get in contact with Prince Raphael directly from now on. He will be directing the Knights’ efforts.”

  “But what about you?” I asked.

  Doctor Yurasov smiled sadly.

  “I am getting old, Miss Flynn. Seeing you both fight in the tournament showed me that. My skills are better employed elsewhere.”

  ***

  Back in our room, I filled Lynn in. It was good to be able to talk to her again, though she still avoided talking about her experiences like the plague. She was nonetheless just as keen as I was to solve the mystery of who was behind the entire operation.

  “So who could it be?” Lynn asked.

  “I don’t know. You must have seen something, Lynn.”

  “I told you, Beccs, Jayden did most of the dealings. But I never there was a ringleader behind the operation at all.”

  “Well, Yurasov figures that there is.”

  ***

  For the following days, the looming exams was all anyone could talk about. We had about two more weeks, and I was getting desperate, but I just couldn’t concentrate on the tasks at hand. My mind kept jumping to the question of who was behind it all.

  Certainly, it had to be someone with enough access. I briefly thought of the two janitors. They could move around the entire castle without arousing suspicion. They’d be perfectly placed to distribute the figurines throughout the castle.

  On the other hand, they had volunteered information to Steve and me on separate occasions, hardly the mark of a mastermind. They seemed even more curious than we were at times.

  No, it had to be someone else. I was deep in thought when I suddenly bumped into a pair of strong arms and broad shoulders. My heart flipped. It was Raphael.

  “Hi,” I said.

  “Hey.”

  “Yurasov’s told me to report to you now. Has he told you?”

  “No. He mentioned he wanted to talk to you, though.”

  Suddenly, his hand jerked instinctively in the direction of his knee.

  “Does it still hurt from the tournament?”

  “Yeah. Never properly healed. Damn that Vox, he had even more speed than you did.” He smiled mischievously at me.

  “Speed. That’s it. I’ve got it.”

  “What – what do you mean?”

  “Raphael, it’s Vox! He has all the symptoms of severe blood addiction. He was close to Wiley. He has access to alchemical equipment. He’ll have keys to the old alchemy storage rooms. It all fits!”

  Raphael looked at me and nodded.

  “He must have some place where he can work on all of this. He’d hardly do It in one of the classrooms.”

  “I know,” Raphael suddenly exclaimed. “There’s an abandoned tower right at far end, it used to be the old hospital tower. It’d be the perfect place.”

  I smiled at him.

  “We’ve got it,” I said.

  “I’ll get the Knights together.”

  ***

  There was no time to lose. I ran as fast as I could to the East Tower and into the Knights’ common room. Sarah, looking slightly bewildered, was alone there.

  “I need a sharp weapon with a silver tip,” I said, panting. “Sorry, no time to explain. Yurasov’s orders.”

  “Ok, I think there must be some over in the … wait, I’ll get them for you.”

  She returned within minutes with a rapier. The tip was extremely sharp.

  “Thanks, Sarah. Must fly, Raphael will explain it all.”

  ***

  A few minutes later, I arrived at the abandoned tower. The flight of stairs had fallen into disrepair from neglect. It was much colder here too. I walked up the steps as softly as I could. I assumed that Vox wouldn’t be there, though it was important to take precautions. And he was an excellent swordsman, as he had proven during the tournament. I reached the first floor. I was looking for a room that was obviously in use, giveaway signs like missing cobwebs and the like.

  On the second floor, I finally found what I had been looking for. Someone had taken great pains in keeping the dust even in front of the door, though the doorknob was much shinier than it’s neighbours.

  I turned the knob very quietly. It clicked and opened.

  I found myself in dark room that smelled of dust and mold. But some tables and instruments were obviously still in use. I was just about to investigate them a little further when I heard a creaking behind me.

  I swung around and, in the doorframe, stood Mr. Vox.

  His eyes darted immediately to my rapier. He knew that the game was up. Quick as a flash, he rushed to the back laboratory to one of the cupboards. I tried to stop him, but he flung half a dozen glass phials at me that barely missed my face. It bought him enough time to tear open the cupboard and produce a short scimitar.

  I knew I was at an advantage, but this fight wouldn’t tolerate any mistakes. There wouldn’t be a best-of or several sets. It was most likely first hit for the win.

  I pressed my advantage immediately, trying to control him with my much longer blade. I needed to buy time until Raphael and the others would arrive. But Vox was as fast as ever.

  Then, he screamed like a terribly deformed creature and hurled himself at me. I stabbed, and got him through the shoulder blade, but he simply kept going, pinning me to the wall behind him. I could see the poisonous effects of the silver in his face, but he tore me down to the ground with him, as his long and powerful fingers twisted themselves around my throat.

  Gasping for breath, I beat and kicked at every inch I could fi
nd, but he was much stronger. I was losing the struggle. He throttling me.

  And then, the door burst open once more, and Raphael stood in the doorframe alone. Without hesitation, he launched himself on top of Vox, and stabbed him clean into his heart, leaving the blade in place.

  Struck for a second time with a silver blade, Vox dropped to floor, wheezing for the last vestiges of life. But it was in vain. He was dead.

  “Rebecca, are you alright?”

  Raphael lifted me up, cleared one of the workbenches and laid me on it. And then, we couldn’t resist any longer. He bent lower, our face closer than ever before. He was edging ever nearer. I wanted to kiss those lips more than anything in the world.

  17

  I hardly registered the ensuing chaos as more Knights arrived, notified by Raphael earlier no doubt, arrived at the scene. Feelings of fear and relief mixed with the most heavenly memories of the kiss I had shared with him for just a few moments. I wanted to be close to him, to be near him.

  But that illusion was immediately taken from me at the foot of the abandoned tower. Streams of people had arrived. We told the story over and over again, standing out there in the cold, until the First Warden Stephanopoulos himself arrived, and we had to tell it all over again.

  He smiled in his usual benign fashion, listening to every word we had to say. When we had finished, he said:

  “I wish to address the entire castle tomorrow morning. In the Great Hall. You have done well, Miss Flynn. And you, of course, Prince Raphael. Your mother, I believe, is already awaiting you at the hospital. The King’s condition is getting worse. He needs you.”

  Raphael nodded, and disappeared into the darkness.

  ***

  The following morning, we heard the First Warden’s speech with enthusiasm, at least at first. The ordeal had ended, the culprit had been caught. He spoke of how Vox had betrayed the entire community. How he had lived a double life, caught between the temptations of addiction and the duties as a member of the staff. Finally, Raphael and I were brought in front of the entire castle, to receive medals for our ‘exemplary’ conduct. I would have thrown that thing away if it had meant five more minutes with him.

  But when I looked sideways, Raphael wouldn’t look back. I could see something was bothering him, gnawing at his psyche relentlessly. I tried to ask, but he simply looked away grimly. Finally, he whispered to me:

  “Please, Rebecca, meet me tonight in the courtyard. There’s something important I have to tell you.”

  ***

  With increasing dread, I waited. And when the time finally came, I thought I could have fainted, or else had another duel with a couple of sharp swords this time.

  “You’re engaged?” I asked incredulously.

  “Yes.”

  “To… to whom?”

  “Lydia. She’s from a Greek noble family.”

  I was almost lost for words.

  “When did you… decide this?”

  “I didn’t. You see, Rebecca. That’s the problem. Noble families have arranged marriages. They’re set up by our parents. I have no say.”

  “But that’s terrible. Do… do you want to go through with this?”

  “Of course not, ‘Rebecca. I haven’t forgotten our last kiss.”

  He leant forward and kissed me again, tenderly, his hand lightly cupping my chin.

  “Nor will I forget this one. But I cannot ignore my duty.”

  “So, this is farewell then?” I asked, as I struggled hard to fight back the tears.

  He couldn’t answer himself. We just stood there, both miserable, both madly in love with each other. And there was nothing we could do about it.

  18

  The following weeks, I tried to ease the pain by working harder than ever for my exams. The memories of Raphael were painful. I didn’t think I could ever accept such unfairness. What sort of a system, I thought bitterly, demanded that? Perhaps the revolutionaries were right after all, I thought, but immediately regretted thinking so.

  There had to be a way. I was lucky to be supported by Lynn again.

  And yet, another strange feeling kept penetrating into my conscious thoughts. It was clear that Vox had been the guilty party. Why else would he have attacked me on sight after I had discovered his laboratory? But something in the back of my mind insisted that this was not the entire story.

  For one, the King wasn’t recovering, despite the best possible treatment. And then, there were all the other details. How would Vox have been able to keep Wiley under control for so long on his own? Especially if he himself was addicted.

  ***

  On the last day of the exams, only history remained. Then I would be free. The clock denoted another 15 minutes, which passed annoyingly fast. I had covered almost all of the questions, though I was sure I had missed something in regard to the foundation of the Slayers’ League.

  And then, the bell sounded. Doctor Yurasov bade everyone goodbye and wished them a pleasant term break.

  “Ah, Rebecca, you’re still here. Did you like the exam?”

  “Well, as far as that’s possible of course, Doctor,” I said good-humouredly.

  “Something is troubling you. I can see that. You fought well against Vox. He was a very bad man.”

  “I just wonder how he did it all on his own, though.”

  Doctor Yurasov shrugged his shoulders.

  “Maybe he didn’t. I’m sure he got some of the addicts to assist him.”

  He was right, of course. I was just about to turn when I noticed that Doctor Yurasov’s study door stood open. He looked at me in a strange way.

  “Would you like to see my study?”

  “Gladly.”

  We stepped inside. An impressive array of swords and weapons from the war hung on the walls.

  “Old mementos, all out of use now, of course.”

  On one of the shelves, a small silver figurine was perched.

  “I found that in Vox’s study. Strange things, aren’t they?”

  Still, I remained silent. I noticed that Doctor Yurasov was getting more and more agitated.

  “Well, Miss Flynn, I think you’d better be off.”

  “You know, Doctor, I never thought of another staff member as Vox’s accomplice before. What do you think?”

  “Entirely likely, but no proof.”

  I was mad to press it home, but I did anyway.

  “One who cherished the old days as much as anyone. Who hated what the Queen had done to the Council. Who loved keeping a lot of mementos of the war.”

  He said nothing, instead walked over to one of the drawers and put his hand on the knob. Slowly, he drew it out.

  “There were some good things about them, you know, the old days,” Doctor Yurasov said. His voice had changed. It sounded bitter and distant-

  “Why did you do it?” I asked.

  He swung around. He was holding a miniature crossbow in his hand with a silver bolt.

  “Don’t make a move, Miss Flynn. You will not stop me now.“

  He stepped out of the door and slammed it to, locking it behind him. I tried to kick in the door but to no avail. I opened one of the adjacent windows. Luckily, it was only the first floor, so I risked the jump and landed neatly on the cold grass below.

  In distance, I could see Yurasov running. He was heading for the Great Hall.

  He darted inside. I was right on his tail.

  “Stop him!” I yelled.

  There were only a few people inside. He climbed up the stairs and entered the Royal Box.

  “You can’t stop all of us, Miss Flynn. We’ll bring back the old days.”

  And then, horribly, he turned the crossbow on himself and pulled the trigger. He was knocked over the balustrade and fell to the floor below. He was dead.

  ***

  The term had ended and nothing would be quite the same anymore. I bade my goodbyes to Steve, Lynn, Jayden, Sarah, and most other first years who would be spending the winter break with their families. I, on the
other hand, would be staying on at the castle.

  Finally, Raphael turned to me. I was grateful that our friends gave us the space we needed.

  “Listen, Rebecca. The Knights have orders to hunt down the remaining followers of Yurasov. I’ve been assigned to one of the teams. But I wanted you to have this.”

  It was a small locket.

  I kissed him on the cheek and said goodbye. When he had left, I opened the locket. Within was a piece of paper that read:

  We’ll find a way. Don’t forget me.

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for reading Scarlet Curse, the first book in the Slayers and Vampires series. If you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, you can make sure that you will be the first to know when the next instalment in the series, Scarlet Blessing, is released by joining my mailing list.

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  T.H. Hunter

  Works by T.H. Hunter

  Scarlet Curse, 2017

  Available on Amazon